Keeping Your Home Healthy

Think of your house as a second skin. If you nurture your physical body, keeping it tuned and healthy, you’ll want to extend that TLC to your shelter, the four walls and roof surrounding you. Your home is an extension of yourself. It deserves to be healthy too. -Green Clean

About a year and a half ago we decided to make every effort to have a healthy and non-toxic home. Some things I did right from the start were: stopped buying commercial cleaners and started making my own, stopped using air freshners and aerosols, and began recycling. Deciding to live a non-toxic and environmentally friendly lifestyle is a process. Little by little I try to adopt new ways of living – from our food, cleaners, toiletries and even now to the toys Judah plays with. It seems like I am always coming up with new ways to live as non-toxic, healthy and frugally as possible. It’s quite an exciting thing to pursue!

I wanted to share a few cleaning mixtures I have used and stand by. I’ll keep adding other things over time. I’m also going to post some info on the history of housekeeping.

All Purpose Cleaner: Scented Vinegar Spray

1 Tablespoon castile soap

1/8 Cup distilled vinegar

2 cups water

5-10 drops of essential oil – optional

16 ounce spray bottle

Mix all ingredients in bottle. Use as needed and wipe with sponge or rag. Shelf Life: Indefinite

Glass/Surface Cleaner: Club Soda Spray

2+ cups of club soda

16 ounce bottle

Spray and wipe with sponge, rag or newspaper. Shelf Life: Indefinite

Liquid Dishwashing Soap:

Castile Soap (liquid or bar)

Distilled White Vinegar

Mix ingredients in bottle if using liquid soap. If using bar soap: grate soap and add to dishwater. Shelf life: Indefinite

Mildew Remover:

Baking Soda

Distilled White Vinegar

Mix vinegar with water or sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge to clean affected area. Vinegar helps prevent mildew because acid kills mildew fungus. Shelf Life: Use and discard

Floor Cleaner:

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

Warm water

Bucket

Mix ingredients in bucket and mop lightly wood, laminate or tile floors. Rinse with water. Do NOT leave pools of water on the floors. Shelf Life: Use and discard

Furniture Polish:

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Mix oil with lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth and buff until desired. Shelf Life: Use and discard.

I use Dr. Bronners and I can get it at Target or my local chain Grocery Store. It runs about $10 but it is super concentrated for cleaning. Dr. Bronner has castile soap that you can use for everything – literally – even washing your hair & body. He also something called Sal Suds and this is what I use for my cleaning. It’s made for cleaning.